Two-cell display carton



Oct. 17, 1967 D, KOSSNAR Two-CELL DISPLAY CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledFeb. 2l, 1966 Oct. 17, 1967 D. KossNAR 3,347,356

TWO-CELL DISPLAY CARTON Filed Feb. 2l, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 17,1967 D. KOSSNAR 3,347,356

TWO- CELL DI SPLAY CARTON Filed Feb. 21, 1966 3 sheets-sheet s UnitedStates Patent O 3,347,356 TWO-CELL DISPLAY CARTON Dennis Kossnar, WestChicago, Ill., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 528,753 11Claims. (Cl. 206-45.29)

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A two-cell carton having a particularconstruction to permit stacking of like cartons on one another whilesimultaneously withdrawing the product carried in the carton from thecarton; this construction including having the upper edges of thecentral portion of the front wall, the rear wall, the rear portion ofthe end walls, and a central partition strap of the same height, andhaving the upper edges of the end portions of the front wall and theforward portions of the end walls of a lesser height.

This invention relates to a and displaying a plurality of adjacentupright positions, structural modifications that like cartons on oneanother two-cell carton for holding relatively thin packages in and moreparticularly, to improve the ability to stack while simultaneouslyproviding for the removal of the packages from the carton.

The style carton for which this invention forms an improvement istypically used for displaying and merchandising relatively thin packagesor pouches arranged on end in the cartons. Products merchandised in thistype package include the powdered concentrates for soft drinks,seasonings and soup mixes, and generally come in a complete line ofcliavors and kinds. Each display carton holds many separate packages,and like cartons cornrnonly are stacked on one another to display thecomplete product line. The front wall of the carton is generally cutaway to permit removal of the packages from the carton even with anothercarton `stacked on it. However, existing cartons cannot be stacked onone another effectively since the displayed packages provide rigidity tothe carton, so that frequently after some packages have been removedfrom lower cartons of a stack, the carton collapses and the stacktopples over.

Accordingly, a main object of this invention is to provide an improveddisplay carton having a full height central portion on the front walland a front to rear partition strap between the front wall centralportion and the rear wall to form a firm base upon which like cartonscan be stacked and be supported.

A more detailed object of this invention is to provide a double-plyconstruction for either the full height of the narrowed central portionof the front wall or at least a partial height of this area to reinforcethis section of the front wall and the partition strap to add rigidityto the carton independently of the packages carried therein to permitmore effective stacking of like cartons.

These and other objects of this invention will be more fully appreciatedafter reviewing the following specification including las a part thereofthe accompanying drawings, wherein: ,j

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the subjecttwo-cell partitioned display carton;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section as seen generally from line2-2 in FIG. 1, of the carton shown in FIG. 1; v

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, as seen generallyfrom line 3-3 in FIG. 2 of the carton shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, as seen from the unprinted or inside surface ofthe finished carton, of a blank suitable for forming the cartondisclosed in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the subjecttwo-cell partitioned display carton;

FIG. 6 is a plan View, as seen from the unprinted or inside surface ofthe tinished carton, of a blank suitable for forming the cartondisclosed in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still a third embodiment of the subjecttwo-cell partitioned display carton;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, partly in section, as seen generallyfrom line 8 8 in FIG. 7, of the carton shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan View, as seen from the unprinted or inside surface ofthe finished carton, of a blank suitable for forming the carton in FIGS.7 and 8; and

FIG. l0 is a perspective view of a plurality of like cartons, having theconstruction disclosed herein, shown in a typical display where they arestacked on one another.

FIGS. 1, 5 and 7 show individual embodiments of the subject two-celldisplay carton, and FIG. 10 shows how a plurality of like cartons can bestacked on one another for typical display purposes. Each of thecartons, generally designated C, includes a tubular vertical wallstructure having a cut-away front wall 10, a full rezar wall 12, andopposing partially cut-away end walls 14. The tubular structure is openat its top, but is closed at its bottom by a bottom wall 16 hinged atits lower edges. A partition strap 18 hinged to an elevated centralportion 20 of the front wall, extends front to rea-r of the cartonbetween the end walls 14 and is in turn hinged to the rear Wall 12. Thetop of the rear wall 12, and the top edges 22 of the rearward portionsof the end walls 14, the central portion 20 of the front wall 10, Iandthe partition strap 18 all are substantially equally spaced from thebottom wall 16 and define thereby a top edge plane which extendsparallel to the bottom wall. The distance between the top edge plane andthe bottom wall is slightly in excess of the height of the packages tobe displayed by the carton so that the tops of the packages do notprotrude above the top of the carton.

A cover and display panel 26 is hinged at 27 along its lower rear edgeto the top of the rear wall 12 and provides, in the position shown inFIGS. l, 5, and 7, a display for the carton. The panel can be foldedabout its hinge 27 to engagement with the previously mentioned top edges22 to lie in substantially coplanar relationship with the top edge planeto cover and close the open top of the carton. In this carton closedposition, panel 26 is firmly supported so that other cartons of similarstyle can be stacked on it in the manner shown in FIG. 10. The forwardportion of the end walls and the end portions of the front wall havetheir top edges 30 and 32 trimmed away to be disposed between the coverpanel 26 in the carton closed position, and the bottom wall 16. Thisdisplays the packages when the carton is in the closed and stackedposition (see FIG. 10) while further permits easy removal of the packagefrom the carton through the open front wall. To permit multiple stackingof these cartons, a doubleply reinforcing strut 82 is provided adjacentthe partition strap 18 at the central portion 20 of the front wall andextends the full height of the central portion. Preferably, thereinforcing `strut 36, the partition strap 18, and the front Wallcentral portion 20 are adhesively secured together.

Having thus described the basic carton structure as well as itsassociation with a typical package to be displayed therein, the mannerof construction will now be described. For this purpose, attention isdirected to FIGS. 4, 6, and 9 which disclose, respectively, the blanksuitable for forming the cartons of FIGS. 1, 5, and 7. Each blankconsists of an elongated strip of paperboard divided into three sectionsby parallel lines 38 and 39 running longitudinally of the blank. Theportions of the blank located between the two parallel lines define thetubular wall structure of the carton, the partition strap, and thereinforcing strut. The portions of the blank located above the upperline 38 define generally the cover and display panel 26; while theportions of the blank located below the lower line 39 define the bottomwall structure 16.

Referring now specifically to blank 40 (FIG. 4), front wall panel 6 ishinged by score lines 43 and 44 to the end wall panels 14, which arehinged in turn on score lines 45 and `46 to the rear wall panels 12 and13. Cover panel 26 is hinged along score line 27 to the panel 12, anddisplay panel 28 is hinged to the top panel 26 on the score line 29 andis separated from panel 14 along cut 52. The cover panel 26 extends thefull width of the carton, and partition strap panel 53 is hinged onscore line 54 to rear wall panel 12 and is separated from cover panel 26along cut 55. Rear wall panel 56 fills out the tubular structure portionof the blank to the end of panel 26, and is hinged to the panel 26 alongscore line 57 and is separated from panel 53 along the cut 58.

The bottom wall structure 16 shown is of an automatic lock bottom typeand includes a rear bottom panel 16 hinged along the score line 6'1 topanels 12 and 56, a front bottom panel 62 hinged along score line 63 tothe bottom edge .of front panel 10, and end bottom panels 64 `and 66respectively, hinged on score lines 65 and 67 to the bottom edges of theend wall panels 14. The bottom end wall panels 64 and 66 are oftriangular configuration and each has hinged thereto on a diagonal scoreline a triangular panel adapted to be glued to the adjacent bottom wallpanel. Thus, panel 68 is hinged on diagonal score line 69 to panel 64,while triangular panel 70 is hinged on diagonal score line 711 to panel66 and along a continuation of score line 44 to the fro-nt bottom wallpanel 62. A rear glue panel 72 is hinged on score line 73 along upperdivider line 38 to the rear wall panel 12.

Partition strap and reinforcing strut panels are formed from t-he blankadjacent the front panel and are hinged to the front panel. Thus,partition strap panel 18 is hinged along score line 75 to the fullheight central portion of the front wall panel 20. The partition strappanel 1'8 is elongated to extend toward the end wall 1-4, but isseparated by cuts 76 and 77 from t-he display panel 28 and end wallrespectively, and by cut 7'8 from the front panel 10. The reinforcingstructure includes two panels 80 and 82 hinged respectively, on scorelines 81 and 83 to the front wall panel 42 4and to the panel 80. Thepanels are separated by cut 84 from the lower portion of the front wallpanel 10. The width of panel 80 between the score lines y81 and 83 issubstantially equal to the width of the `central portion between thehinge lines 75 and 81.

To form the carton disclosed in FIGS. 1-3, blank 40 is conveyed, withits unprinted side up, along typical folding and gluing equipment.Adhesive is applied to t-he blank on the re-inforcing strut panels 80and 82 and the panels 80 and 82 are folded about hinge 81 to bond panel80 to the front wall panel 10 and panel 82 to panel 18. The bottom wallforming panels 16, 62, 64, and 66 are then folded upwardly about theirrespective score lines along line 39, and the triangular panel 68 isbaekfolded onto panel 64 about score lines 69. Adhesive is then appliedto the exposed triangular panels 68 and 70 on the unprinted side of thepanel 69 and on the printed side of panel 70, and to the areas indicatedon the display pane-l 28, the rear partition strap panel 53, and therear wall panel 12 and the -glue panel 72. The panels 26, 56, 53 and 12,and 60 are then folded upwardly about the score line 45 so that thecover and display panels are adhesively secured together, so that thepartition strap panels 53 and 75 are adhesively secured together, and sothat the rear bottom wall panels 16 is adhesively secured to triangularpanel 68. The panels 14, 66 and 70, and 13 and 72, are then folded aboutthe hinge line 44 to adhesively secure panels 13 to panels 12 and 56,panel 72 to panel 49, and panel 70 to panel 62.

Note that the automatic bottom wall panels fit within the cartonstructure in the collapsed position hereof below the partition strap topermit, without interference, the unfolding o-f this autornaic lockbottom during the opening of the carton.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternate embodiment of the subject two-cellcarton. In this embodiment, the central portion 20 of the carton extendsto both sides of the partition strap 174 for the full height of thecentral portion to provide package retaining lips for each cell.Referring to the blank in FIG. 6, the tubular structure is seen toinclude a single rear wall panel 147, opposed end wall panels 14, frontwall panel 142 and lapped glue panel 172. The bottom wall structure 16is substantially identical to the FIG. 4 embodiment and includes panels16, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70, hinged to the tubular structure wall aboutline 39 and to one another in a manner described for FIG. 4. Cover panel149 is hinged to the top of the rear panel 147 and the display panel 151is hinged on score line to the side of the cover panel.

In FIG. 6, the partition strap panel 174 is hinged at score line 154 toa triangular panel 153 in turn hinged along score line 155 to the loweredge o-f the display panel 151. The partition strap panel is separatedfrom the central portion of -front panel 142 by cut 175 and from thepanel 151 by cut 176. Reinforcing strut panels and 182 are hinged aboutscore lines 18-1 and 183 to the central portion of front wia-ll panel142 and to the panel 1-80, respectively.

To form the carton from the blank 140, the reinforcing strut panels 180and 1182 are glued and folded about the score line 181, as previouslynoted, to bond panel 180 to the unprinted side of the front panel and tobond panel 182 to the reinforcing strap panel 174. The bottom wallstructure is then folded upwardly about line 39 and panel 68 about score69, and panels 68, 70, 151, 153 and 172, are adhesively coated in amanner noted above for FIG. 4. The end wall panel and bottom wall panels66 and 70 are folded about score line 144, and the cover panel 149, rearpanel 147, and bottom wall panel 60 are then folded about the hinge line145 to adhesively secure the cover and dis-play panels 14-9 and 151together and to overlap the lap panel 172 with the end wall panel 14.The triangular panel 153, when secured to the rear Wall panel 147,establishes a rigid connection for the partition strap. The carton opensto that shown in FIG. 6.

The carton embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 will now be described, blank240 in FIG. 9 being quite similar to those disclosed in the previousembodiments. In FIG. 9, the blank 240 includes front wall panels 241 and242, a single rear wall panel 247, and end wall panels 214. T-he coverand display panels 249 and 251 are hinged to the rear panel 247 and eachother, respectively, and the partition strap panel 274 is hinged bymeans of the triangular panel 253 to the display panel 251 as was notedfor the corresponding elements in FIG. 6. The bottom structure differsfrom the previously described bottom structure in that two front wallbottom panels 259 and 262 are hinged, respectively, to the separatefront wall panels 242 and 241 on score lines 259a and 263. The otherpanels 261, 264, 266, 268, and 270 are similar to the correspondingbotto-m wall panels previously noted.

In FIG. 9, the partition strap 274 is hinged along hinge line 275 to thecentral portion of the front wall panel 242 and is separated from theremaining portion of the front wall panel and from the cover panel 251by cuts 276 and 278, respectively. The strut reinforcing panel 282 ishinged about hinge line 283 to the central section of the front Wallpanel 241.

The carton is formed from the blank by first folding the bottom wallpanels about the respective scores on line 39 and app-lying adhesive tothe triangular panels 268 and 270 as noted in the previous embodiments.The inner front wall panel 241, the reinforcing strut panel 28-2 andbottom wall panel 262 are folded a'bout the score 244, and the partitionstrap panel 274, cover panel 251, triangular panel 21513, and front wallpanel 242 are adhesively coated in the areas noted in the figure. Thedisplay panel 251, the end wall 2-14, and outer front wall panel 242,partition strap panel 274 and bottom wall pane-1s 259, 264, and 2618 arethen folded about the score line 2-45 to bond together a narrow stripbetween the front wall panels 241 and 242, and further to secure thereinforcing strut 282 to the partition strap 274 in the areas noted. Thecarton opens to that shown in FIG. 7.

While several embodiments of the carton have been shown, it can be notedthat each discloses a full height central portion on the front wall anda partition strap connected thereto that together improve the stackingability of the carton. Further, the double ply of board at thereinforcing strut adjacent the central portion of the front wall and thepartition strap strengthens the carton in the area required to form arigid carton independently of the product in the carton. The partiallycut-away front Wall still provides for display of the carried packageand permits its removal from even stacked cartons as is shown in FIG.10.

What is claimed is:

1. A two cell carton for holding and displaying a plurality of thinpackages in adjacent upright positions in two parallel rows, comprising:

(a) opposed front and rear walls and opposed end walls hingedlyinterconnected at their side edges to form a tubular structure open atthe top and bottom;

(b) a bottom Wall including panels hinged to the lower edges of thetubular structure walls for closing the open bottom of said tubularstructure;y

(c) the rearward portions of the end walls, the central portion of thefront wall, and the rear wall being of equal height to define at the topedges thereof a top edge plane extending parallel to the bottom wall andspaced from said bottom wall by a distance greater than the height ofthe packages to be displayed;

(d) a partition strap connected between the front wall center portionand the rear wall and extending substantially parallel to the end Walls,and having a top edge substantially coplanar with the top edge plane;

(e) the forward portions of the end walls and the end portions of thefront wall having top edges disposed below the top edge plane suitableto display and provide for ready removal of the packages from the frontof the carton even if a like carton is stacked on said carton.

2. A carton according to claim 1, wherein a display and cover panel ishinged at its lower rear edge to the top edge of the rear wall to foldbetween a carton closed position supported by at least the previouslymentioned partition strap top edge in the top edge plane and a cartonopen position spaced from the top edge plane.

3. A carton according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing strut is formedin the front wall central portion and includes panels secured to therear side of the front wall and to the partition strap, said strutextending substantially the full height of the front wall centralportion,

4. A carton according to claim 1, wherein said tubular structure iscollapsible to a flattened condition having the front wall and one endwall disposed adjacent and in opposing relation to the other end walland rear wall, and wherein adjacent pairs of said bottom wall panels arehinged to adjacent walls of the tubular structure and are secured toeach other to define an automatic lock bottom, and are further foldableinto the tubular structure between the opposing walls in the collapsedcondition of said tubular structure.

5. A carton according to claim 1, wherein the carton is formed from aunitary paperboard blank having the partition strap formed from theblank area between the front Wall and one end wall adjacent the cut awaytop edges of said front and end walls.

6. A carton according to claim 1, wherein said partition strap includespanels integrally hinged to the front wall central portion and rear walland that overlap and are adhesively secured to one another.

7. A carton according to claim 1, wherein the partition strap is hingedto the front and rear Walls about hinge lines extended parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the tubular structure.

8. A carton according to claim 2, wherein said carton is formed from aunitary paperboard blank having panels for the front wall, rear wall,end walls, and partition strap confined between two parallel linesextended across the blank, and wherein the cover and display panel ishinged to the rear wall panel on a score line and is separated from theadjacent end wall panel and partition strap on a cut extended along oneof the previously mentioned parallel lines.

9. A carton according to claim 2, wherein a reinforcing strut is formedalong the full height of the front wall central portion and includespanels adhesively secured to said front wall central portion andpartition strap.

10. A carton according to claim 9, wherein said cover and display panelis double ply having both the front and rear surfaces thereof printedwith copy.

11. A carton according to claim 4, wherein said carton is formed from aunitary paperboard blank having only four bottom Wall panels hinged,respectively, to the opposed end, and opposed front and rear walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,949,987 3/ 1934 Archer 206-442,260,428 10/ 1941 Barr et al 206-44 2,330,927 10/ 1943 Rous et al20G-45.29 2,457,291 12/ 1948 Wenzel 206-45.29 2,710,131 6/1955 Geller229-15 2,741,399 4/ 1956 Arneson 220-113 2,747,767 5/ 1956 Bergstein229-28 X 2,893,593 7/ 1959 Toensmeier 229-28 X 2,942,756 6/ 1960 Colluraet al 229-27 X 3,166,213 1/1965 Holmes 229-28 X 3,195,797 7/ 1965 De Feo229-27 3,208,659 9/ 1965 Blasdell et al. 229-27 3,227,266 1/ 1966 Soma206-44 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.

1. A TWO CELL CARTON FOR HOLDING AND DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF THIN PACKAGES IN ADJACENT UPRIGHT POSITIONS IN TWO PARALLEL ROWS, COMPRISING: (A) OPPOSED FRONT AND REAR WALLS AND OPPOSED END WALLS HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED AT THEIR SIDE EDGES TO FORM A TUBULAR STRUCTURE OPEN AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM; (B) A BOTTOM WALL INCLUDING PANELS HINGED TO THE LOWER EDGES OF THE TUBULAR STRUCTURE WALLS FOR CLOSING THE OPEN BOTTOM OF SAID TUBULAR STRUCTURE; (C) THE REARWARD PORTIONS OF THE END WALLS, THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE FRONT WALL, AND THE REAR WALL BEING OF EQUAL HEIGHT TO DEFINE AT THE TOP EDGES THEREOF A TOP EDGE PLANE EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE BOTTOM WALL AND SPACED FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL BY A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE PACKAGES TO BE DISPLAYED; (D) A PARTITION STRAP CONNECTED BETWEEN THE FRONT WALL CENTER PORTION AND THE REAR WALL AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE END WALLS, AND HAVING A TOP EDGE SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR WITH THE TOP EDGE PLANE; (E) THE FORWARD PORTIONS OF THE END WALLS AND THE END PORTIONS OF THE FRONT WALL HAVING TOP EDGES DISPOSED BELOW THE TOP EDGE PLANE SUITABLE TO DISPLAY AND PROVIDE FOR READY REMOVAL OF THE PACKAGES FROM THE FRONT OF THE CARTON EVEN IF A LIKE CARTON IS STACKED ON SAID CARTON. 